Boots Riley, Roman Mars (and me) on Jesse Thorn’s Bullseye

High on the list of Bay Area cultural hallowed ground for me is the green room at the Punch Line Comedy Club in San Francisco. You’re surrounded by Dan Dion’s photos, featuring what seems like every comedy legend who came out of the city in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s long and thin with a high ceiling, like hanging out inside a box of Girl Scout cookies. But you don’t mind that everyone is practically sitting on each other’s lap, because all the people in the room are a good hang.

I was invited to the Punch Line a couple of weeks ago, as the guest culture critic on Jesse Thorn’s Bullseye radio show/podcast, which he was recording at SF Sketchfest. I made a few San Francisco-centric movie recommendations, which acted as an appetizer before Jesse’s interviews with 99% Invisible radio host Roman Mars, and Oakland hip hop legend Boots Riley.

I was already a fan of Thorn and Riley, and became a fan of Mars. It was a very fun evening. (Late afternoon, technically.) You can check out the entire podcast here, check out my part here or listen to the radio broadcast on 91.7 KALW at 4 p.m. this Sunday.

A few more notes below the Bullseye …

* I had never met Boots Riley of The Coup, steward of Oaktown and one of my favorite all-time musical acts. When he entered the green room, I stuck out my hand and said “Peter Hartlaub, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” hoping he would respond with a forceful “Never let they punk asses ever defeat you!” I learned, as I’m sure others have before me, that Boots Riley doesn’t self-quote from “My Favorite Mutiny” in casual conversation. (He went with the less rhythmic “Pleasure to meet you, too.” Very, very nice guy in person.)

* The Thorn/Riley interview is worth checking out for their telemarketing discussion alone. The latest The Coup album, “Sorry to Bother You,” is actually inspired by a movie by the same name that’s due to be released later in 2013.

* Jesse Thorn has the ultimate podcast superpower: The ability to engage listeners so personally, that I catch myself at least once speaking out loud because I forget I’m not actually part of the conversation. (Greg Proops does that to me, too.) Subscribe to Bullseye and its various spinoffs if you get a chance.

* Jesse and Bullseye producer Julia Smith saved me from myself. I picked three San Francisco movie recommendations: “The Conversation,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the fifth and last Dirty Harry movie, “The Dead Pool.” They focused on the first two, and Jesse then segued to “Star Trek IV,” which was my favorite part of the conversation. Other than the actual actor Kirk Thatcher and maybe Leonard Nimoy, I didn’t think there was a human being on earth who knew more than me about the punk rocker/Muni “Star Trek IV” scene. Jesse does. I’m guessing it was his dissertation in college.

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder/editor of The Big Event. He takes requests. Contact him at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterHartlaub. Follow The Big Event on Facebook.